Vice President, Total Rewards

Ladders; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 285,000 - 385,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium health coverage

Retirement plans with employer match

Generous paid time off

Life insurance and disability coverage

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Vice President, Total Rewards to shape and lead a comprehensive total rewards strategy in a regulated, public-company environment. You will align compensation philosophy with business needs and partner with Finance and senior leadership to drive data-driven decisions.

This leadership role manages executive compensation, benefits, and workforce programs to attract, retain, and engage top talent in San Diego. Competitive package included.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years in compensation, benefits, or total rewards with leadership experience.
• Experience designing executive compensation for publicly traded companies.
• Deep expertise in equity and incentive design, governance, and pay analysis.
• Proven track record in job architecture and pay equity initiatives.
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint; HRIS experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a multiyear total rewards strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Evolve the compensation philosophy based on market trends and workforce needs.
• Assess market trends and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Lead total rewards budgeting and forecasting with Finance.
• Design and administer executive compensation packages and retention arrangements.
• Oversee annual compensation planning and ensure consistent application.
• Set strategy for a comprehensive benefits portfolio supporting employee wellbeing.

Skills

Executive compensation

Financial modeling

Pay equity

Governance

Job architecture

Equity design

HR analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

HRIS

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Vice President, Total Rewards to join the team of a leader in the Pharmaceuticals & Biotech space.

This leader will shape a comprehensive total rewards strategy that supports enterprise priorities and helps attract, retain, and engage top talent in a highly regulated, public-company environment. The role will partner closely with Finance and senior leadership to align compensation philosophy, executive pay practices, benefits strategy, and workforce programs with business needs. This is a high-impact leadership position with responsibility for data-driven decision-making, governance, and scalable rewards programs that support the organization’s growth and employee experience.

Location: San Diego, CA

Compensation: $285,000 – $385,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a multiyear total rewards strategy aligned with business priorities
• Evolve the compensation philosophy based on market trends and workforce needs
• Assess market trends and translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Lead total rewards budgeting and forecasting with Finance
• Design and administer executive compensation packages and retention arrangements
• Oversee annual compensation planning and ensure consistent application
• Set strategy for a comprehensive benefits portfolio supporting employee wellbeing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
• 15+ years in compensation, benefits, or total rewards with leadership experience
• Experience in designing executive compensation for publicly traded companies
• Deep expertise in equity and incentive design, compensation governance, and pay analysis
• Proven track record in job architecture and pay equity initiatives
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; HRIS experience required

Benefits

• Premium health, financial, work-life, and well-being offerings for employees and dependents
• Wellness and employee support programs
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Retirement plans with employer match
• Generous paid time off

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.